Summary#
This bill updates how "locatable minerals" (hardrock minerals that remain owned by the United States) are handled on Federal land. It adds new fees and royalties, requires permits and financial assurances for exploration and mining that disturb the surface, sets inspection and reporting rules, and creates a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for abandoned mine cleanup. The bill also limits when patents can be issued for mining claims, restricts some claim relocations, and requires reviews and reports (including a National Academy of Sciences study of uranium development).
Key actions in the bill include:
- A $200 annual maintenance fee for each unpatented mining claim, with a $50 location fee when a claim is recorded (subject to periodic inflation adjustments).
- A royalty of not less than 5% and not more than 8% of gross income on production of locatable minerals (set by the Secretary by regulation), with some limited grandfathering for lands under existing approved operations.
- A reclamation (abandoned mine land) fee of 1% to 3% of the value of production for hardrock mining operations.
- Permit rules requiring exploration and mining permits for surface-disturbing activities (casual use is exempt), with detailed application contents, public notice, and review processes.
- Financial assurance (bonds, trusts, or other instruments) to cover reclamation and long-term water treatment if needed; periodic review and possible trust funds for long-term care.
- Regular inspections and monitoring requirements, minimum inspection frequencies, and recordkeeping and audit authority for the Secretary.
- Civil and criminal penalties for false statements, unlawful removal of minerals, nonpayment, and other violations.
- Establishment of a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund to receive fees, royalties, and other receipts to pay program costs and reclamation, and authorization of appropriations as needed.
The bill directs multiple reports and reviews, including 5-year reviews of collections and impacts of fees and royalties and a study by the National Academy of Sciences on uranium development on Federal land.
What it means for you#
- If you hold or plan to locate a mining claim on Federal land: you must pay an annual maintenance fee ($200, subject to adjustment), a location fee when recording new claims ($50), and follow new permit, reclamation, inspection, and reporting rules. Failure to pay fees or meet requirements can cause forfeiture or relinquishment of a claim and does not remove reclamation obligations.
- If you operate a mine on Federal land: you will generally need permits, post financial assurance to cover reclamation and possible long-term water treatment, pay land use fees for permit areas, and may owe a royalty (5–8% of gross income) and an abandoned-mine reclamation fee (1–3% of production value). You will be subject to inspections, audits, and recordkeeping requirements.
- If you are a member of the public or a tribal government: the bill requires consultation with Indian Tribes for activities that may affect Tribal interests, directs reviews of public lands for possible withdrawal from the Mining Law of 1872, and creates a fund intended to support abandoned mine reclamation. Existing protections and laws that are equal to or stronger than the bill remain in effect.
Expenses#
- Fees and charges in the bill (as written):
- Claim maintenance fee: $200 per unpatented claim, millsite, or tunnel site annually (first payable when a new location is recorded for the initial year). Amounts may be adjusted for inflation every 5 years (or more often if the Secretary finds it reasonable).
- Location fee: $50 per claim when the location notice is recorded; subject to periodic inflation adjustments.
- Royalty: set by regulation between 5% and 8% of gross income from locatable mineral production (Secretary to set rates by mineral).
- Land use fee: for mining permits approved after enactment, an annual fee equal to 4 times the claim maintenance fee for each 20 acres of Federal land in the permit area.
- Abandoned mine reclamation fee: a reclamation fee of not less than 1% and not more than 3% of production value for hardrock mining operations, paid annually.
- Receipts: amounts collected are to be used to pay administration costs of the mining program without further appropriation; excess receipts are deposited into the Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund. The Fund also receives royalties, land use fees, and other specified receipts and is to be used (without fiscal year limitation) to carry out specified reclamation-related provisions.
- Authorization: the bill authorizes such sums as are necessary to be appropriated to the Fund for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
- No total cost or savings estimate is provided in the bill text. No publicly available information on overall federal budget impact beyond the fee and deposit rules in the bill text.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.